IDB clinches WPCA Challenge Cup title

Dr. Sayed Ziauddin JEDDAH — IDB Group downed Crown Steel in the final to claim the WPCA Challenge Cup title in style here recently. In the final, played in the Afternoon session, Crown Steel opted to bat first and posted 165 for 8. Shoaib Ali stood his ground among the ruins to stroke 56 in 36 balls with 8 fours as he added 76 with Saqib Butt, who made 50 in 29 balls after the team was in trouble at 49 for 5. Murtuza added 28. Mohammed Farooq bowled devastatingly to claim 3 for 28 while a wicket each went to Abdullah Shah, Sufiyan and Usman. IDB was home (167) for 5 in 103 balls to claim the crown. Khawar Sohail, Man of the Final, smashed 50 in 30 balls with 8 fours as he added match-winning 68 with Usman Gulab (42). Rahat Ali scored 16 and Sufiyan 12. Wahid Khan took 2-35 while a scalp each was picked up to Javed Iqbal, Ijaz Sagheer and Shoaib Ali. Kashif Mirza and Shareefuddin Padubidri supervised the match. Earlier, IDB beat Awesome XI to qualify for the final, while Crown Steel defeated Jeddah Challengers in the last pool matches to emerge as the only unbeaten team in the tournament. Crown Steel downed Jeddah Challengers by 74 runs. Crown Steel piled up 211 for 4. Shoaib Ali hammered 94 in 49 balls with 3 sixes and 9 fours as he first added 61 with skipper Shafeeq Ahmed (36) and then 84 with Murtuza (36). Akram took 2-24. Jeddah Challengers was left stranded at 137 for 4. Abubaker scored 31 and Abdulazeez 49 as the two added 82 runs. Rizwan hit 35. IDB thrashed Awesome XI by huge 177 runs. IDB racked up 235 for 6 thanks to Sufiyan, who remained unbeaten on 86 as he added 110 runs with Mohammed Farook (24). Khawar Sohail hit 27, Rahat Ali Choudhry 20 and Usman Gulab 30. Irfan got 2-33. Awesome XI succumbed to 58. Abdullah Shah took 3 for 15 and Khawar Sohail 2-4. The prize distribution ceremony took place after the final. Nadeem Nadwi, CEO of Saudi Cricket Centre was the chief guest on the occasion. Also present were Qasim Naqwi, Asim and Mohammed Ahsan from PCB, Akram Qureshi from YACA, Liaqat Ali from JRCL along with Ilyas Mustafa, Sohail Shah and Shafeeq Ahmed from WPCA. Nadeem Shabbir and Amjad Iqbal represented the sponsors. Thales Group and Modern Pioneer Company sponsored the prizes. The award winners are as follows: Amjad Iqbal of Thales Group and Munzir Kidwai of Al-Saudi XI — two hat tricks; Amir Sajjad of GBest — 2 centuries; Amir Sajjad of GBest — Best Batsman; Farhan of Jeddah Challengers — Best Bowler; Junaid Hashim of IDB — Best Wicketkeeper; Khawar Sohail of IDB — Man of the Final; Shoaib Ali of Crown Steel — Player of the Tournament; Skipper of Crown Steel Shafeeq Ahmed — Runner-up Cup and cash prize of SR 1,000; Skipper of IDB Abdullah Shah — WPCA Challenge Cup crown and cash award of SR 2,500.